SELF-SEALING INFLATABLE BALLOON

Abstract

This disclosure falls within the field of inflatable balloons and refers to a self-sealing inflatable balloon (1) comprising a lateral flap (3) connected to a neck (2), forming a single structure, where the end of the lateral flap (3) is covered with an adhesive coating (5), protected by a removable protective strip (4), applied over its full length, and where the aforesaid protective strip (4) is removed by the user during its use by extracting the applicable section 4(b), thereby allowing for the complete sealing of the balloon, in a practical, fast, effective manner.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) INFORMATION

This application is a U.S. national stage, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 371, of PCT International Application No.: PCT/BR2018/050195, filed Jun. 15, 2018, published as WO2019/0010553A1, which claims priority to Brazilian application No. BR 20 2017 015074-2, filed Jul. 13, 2017, published as BR 20 2017 015074-2 U2, the contents of all of which are hereby incorporated by reference, and via attachment as appendices, in their entirety.

This disclosure refers to inflatable balloons with a self-sealing feature, specifically self-sealing inflatable latex balloons.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Latex balloons are commonly used as party decorations worldwide. They can be inflated manually (by the user blowing into the balloon's opening, up to the desired balloon size) or with the use of valves, which tend to make the process more costly, despite ultimately rendering it more practical.

Despite the widespread use of balloons, the process of tying off latex balloons is still quite outmoded and rudimentary, involving the use either of threads, strings, or adhesive tapes, or the tying of “knots” on the balloons themselves, which often injures the fingers, is physically demanding and time-consuming, especially when inflating a large number of balloons. In addition, there is a risk that the air could “leak”/escape from the balloon, on account of a defective knot.

So, several devices/products have been proposed to render the balloon sealing process more practical and effective.

Document BR 20 2014 008693 0 describes an air lock for inflatable balloons, comprising a plastic device that folds in half to prevent the air from leaking out of the balloons. On one side of the device, there is an open space between the end and the mid-section, which fits into the opposite side, equipped with a lock spanning from the end to the middle of the structure. By folding the device on the neck of the balloon, the lock attaches to the cutoff section, preventing the air from leaking out.

Another balloon sealing and holding device is described in document PI 0104713-2. This document describes a item that is preferably made of plastic material, to be inserted and fastened onto the neck of the balloon, to prevent the air from leaking out.

Document MU 8100609-8 references a plastic fastener that folds in half, producing two lateral sections, which can be used to press the neck of the balloon closed. To ensure that the sealing is effective, one of the lateral sections is equipped with a pin, which inserts into a hole on the opposite lateral section.

Document U.S. Pat. No. 5,301,392 describes a multipurpose device to seal off an inflatable balloon. The device comprises two wings interconnecting through a hinge to allow movement, spanning from an opening to an interconnected position. The inflated balloon body is kept between this position and a sealing device assembled on one of the wings, passing through an opening and interconnecting to the other wing, to seal off the body of the balloon.

The problem with the above inventions is that all propose a device to seal an inflatable balloon, which is separate and independent from the respective balloon. Such devices fail to provide a practical, effective solution to the end user, as they are subject to wear and tear over time, or they could be lost, or, yet, their means of attaching to and sealing the balloon could damage and tear the balloon, causing it to empty.

Other approaches have been attempted, to find a better solution for the sealing of inflatable balloons. Document U.S. Pat. No. 4,391,063 describes a sealing device consisting of a pliable strip connected to a flexible fastening string. The user should encircle the neck of the inflated balloon with the strip, which is covered on one side with a pressure-sensitive adhesive, and thereby executes the sealing when the strip is folded onto the string on the neck of the balloon.

In addition, the above document further proposes that the balloon be sealed with the use of an external device, separate from the balloon, which renders the process unpractical and ineffective, since the sealing proposed with the pliable strip is extremely fragile.

Document GB 2 200 299 describes an inflatable balloon where a section of its neck is folded onto itself, and an annular portion of that section is covered with a contact adhesive. Once the balloon is inflated, that portion is unfolded (exposing the adhesive), allowing for the sealing to occur when the neck is pressed onto the adhesive section.

The problem with this invention is that all the pressure exerted by the gas contained inside the balloon is borne solely by the direct contact with the adhesive on the inside surface of the neck. This makes the device liable to leaking and emptying due to the likeliness that the adhesive on the inside surface of the neck will debond, especially since the balloon will likely be submitted to numerous situations of “stress” during its use, as well as pressure fluctuations due to pressing on its surface, temperature variations, etc.

Purposes of this Disclosure

One of the purposes of this disclosure is to produce a self-sealing inflatable balloon that forgoes the use of “knots” on the neck of the balloon, thereby affording the user a very practical sealing method.

Another purpose of this disclosure is to produce a self-sealing inflatable balloon made of latex.

An additional purpose of this disclosure is to produce a self-sealing inflatable balloon equipped with a simple, low-cost sealing device, which is easy to use by users of all ages.

One technique in this disclosure comprises providing a sealing device comprising a neck of balloon and a latex flap extending laterally, forming a single (whole) structure therewith.

Another technique of this disclosure comprises applying an adhesive coating at the end of the lateral flap, which will be protected with the application of a removable protective strip, allowing the user to expose the adhesive coating by removing the strip when sealing the balloon, in a practical, fast, and easy manner.

Therefore, it remains clear that this new self-sealing inflatable balloon, comprising a single neck and lateral flap unit, with the application of an adhesive coating to the end of said flap, protected by a removable protective strip, produces a functional improvement in its use, as compared to the similar prior creations.

Other purposes and advantages of this disclosure will be established with the following detailed description, considering the drawings attached.

Overview

The purposes and the techniques involved in this disclosure are achieved with the self-sealing inflatable balloon employing the principle of a tourniquet to activate the sealing device, thereby rendering the sealing more reliable, secure, and effective. This balloon is made of latex and, in the primary model, comprises a neck connected to a lateral flap, made of the same material as the balloon, forming a single unit. An adhesive coating is applied to the end of this flap, which is protected by a removable protective strip, covering the adhesive coating. The end of the removable protective strip that is not superposed over the lateral flap constitutes a tag, to be pulled by the user when sealing the balloon.

According to this invention, to use the balloon described in this disclosure, the user should execute the following steps:

(i) fill the balloon with air by blowing into its opening, to the desired size;

(ii) twist the neck of the balloon around its own center;

(iii) stretch the lateral flap and encircle it around the neck of the balloon to its full length;

(iv) pull the tab, thereby removing the removable protective strip and exposing the adhesive coating;

(v) press the top side of the flap, with the adhesive coating, onto the neck of the balloon, thereby achieving an effective, long-lasting seal.

A constructive variation of this disclosure comprises an inflatable balloon with a neck connected to a lateral flap, made of the same material as the balloon, with an opening near the neck of the balloon, forming a single unit. The end of this flap is also covered with an adhesive coating, protected by a removable protective strip, applied over the coating. The end of the removable protective strip that is not superposed over the lateral flap constitutes a tag, to be pulled by the user when sealing the balloon.

In this constructive variation, the user should execute the following steps to use it:

(i) fill the balloon with air by blowing into its opening, to the desired size;

(ii) twist the neck of the balloon around its own center;

(iii) stretch the lateral flap and encircle it around the neck of the balloon;

(iv) pass the flap through the opening;

(v) pull the tab, thereby removing the protective strip and exposing the adhesive coating;

(vi) press the top side of the flap, with the adhesive coating, onto the neck of the balloon, thereby achieving an effective, long-lasting seal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In this description, similar parts existing in both the primary model and the constructive variation are represented by the same reference numbers.

FIG. 1 shows a front schematic view of the primary model of the balloon (1) prior to use.

FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b) show, respectively, a front and rear view of the lateral flap (3) within the primary model, and the proper positioning of the adhesive coating (5) and the removable protective strip (4).

FIGS. 3(a-d) show, schematically, the sequence of movements and steps to seal the balloon (1), according to a primary model of this disclosure.

FIG. 4 shows a front schematic view of a constructive variation of the balloon (1), prior to use.

FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b) show, respectively, a front and rear view of the lateral flap according to the constructive variation conceived for this disclosure, and the proper positioning of the opening (7) on the lateral flap (3), the adhesive coating (5), and the removable protective strip (4).

FIG. 6 shows a schematic representation of the position taken by the lateral flap (3) around the neck of the balloon (not shown), prior to the removal of the protective strip (4), in the constructive variation conceived for this disclosure.

FIG. 7 shows a front view of the balloon (1), once inflated and ready to be sealed, upon the removal of the applicable section (4b) of the protective strip (4).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The subject of this disclosure is made of latex, with features that ensure a practical, fast, effective sealing process, with the use of a simple, low-cost, easy to handle device.

According to the primary model, as shown in FIG. 1, this model comprises an inflatable balloon made of latex (1), with a neck area (2) connected to a lateral flap (3), also made of latex, forming a single unit. The end of said flap is covered with an adhesive coating (5), protected by a removable protective strip (4), applied over its full length.

FIG. 2(a) shows a front view of the lateral flap (3), with the protective strip (4). To allow for better understanding, FIG. 2(a) is portrayed without the protective strip (4) in the proper position to be used, that is to say, covering the adhesive coating (5). This view shows the two sections of the strip (4): the section (4a) covering the above mentioned coating (5), thereby preventing the premature adhesion of the adhesive coating (5); and the other section (4b), positioned outside the flap (3). It is through this section (4b) that the user will remove the protective strip (4) from the flap (3).

FIG. 2(b) shows a rear view of the lateral flap (3), showing in detail the section (4b) with the protective strip (4).

Once the inflatable balloon has been inflated (1) and the neck has been twisted around its own center (2), the steps to seal off the balloon are illustrated in FIGS. 3(a-d). FIG. 3(a) shows the inflated balloon (1) ready to be sealed off, at which point the user should stretch the lateral flap (3) and encircle it around the neck (2) of the balloon (1), in the direction indicated by the arrow.

FIG. 3(b) shows the continuation of the movement illustrated in FIG. 3(a), where the flap (3) should encircle the neck (2), to its full length.

FIG. 3(c) illustrates the moment when the user (not shown) should pull the section (4b) (only after the whole flap (3) has encircled the neck (2)), thereby removing the protective strip (4), to expose the adhesive coating.

Once the adhesive coating has been exposed (5), it is pressed against the neck (2), thereby achieving the full sealing of the balloon (1), as illustrated in FIG. 3(d).

As shown in FIG. 4, the constructive variation conceived for this disclosure comprises an inflatable balloon made of latex (1), with its neck area (2) connected to a lateral flap (3), also made of latex, forming a single unit. Near the neck area, there is an opening in the flap (7), through which the flap will pass during the sealing process. The end of said flap is covered with an adhesive coating (5), protected by a removable protective strip (4), applied throughout its full length.

FIG. 5(a) shows a front view of the lateral flap (3), with the protective strip (4) conceived for the constructive variation. To allow for better understanding, FIG. 5(a) is portrayed without the protective strip (4) covering the adhesive coating (5). This view exposes the two sections of the strip (4): the section (4a) covering the above mentioned coating (5), thereby preventing the premature adhesion of the adhesive coating (5); and the section (4b) outside the flap (3). It is through this section (4b) that the user will remove the protective strip (4) from the flap (3).

FIG. 5(b) presents a rear view of the lateral flap (3), showing in detail the opening (7) and the section (4b) with the protective strip (4).

In this constructive variation, once the balloon is inflated (1), the user will twist the neck (2) around its own center and encircle the lateral flap (3) around said neck. Then, the flap is inserted into the opening (7) and pulled, to assure that the whole flap/neck structure is firmly adhered, as shown in FIGS. 6 (balloon not shown) and 7 (balloon shown).

FIGS. 4-7 illustrate that the opening (7) works as an additional lock to enhance the effectiveness of the sealing of the balloon. Once the flap is inserted (3) into the lock, the flap is encircled around the neck of the balloon (1) to its full length. Then, the protective strip (4) is removed from the flap (3), thereby exposing the adhesive coating (5).

Once the adhesive coating has been exposed (5), it is pressed against the neck (2), thereby achieving the full sealing of the balloon (1).

The constructive variation illustrated here preserves the same body and technical-functional unit of the primary model described herein.

Claims

1. A self-sealing inflatable balloon (1) wherein it comprises a lateral flap (3) connected to the neck (2), making up a single structure, where the end of the lateral flap (3) is covered with an adhesive coating (5), which is protected by a removable protective strip (4), applied over its full length, wherein the aforesaid protective strip (4) is removed with the extraction of its section (4b) when the balloon is closed (1).

2. The self-sealing inflatable balloon of claim 1, wherein with regard to the lateral flap (3) connected to the neck (2), making up a single structure, where the end of the lateral flap (3) is covered with an adhesive coating (5), which is protected by a removable protective strip (4) applied over its full length, the protective strip (4) is removed with the extraction of the section (4b) when the balloon is sealed (1), and there is an opening (7) in the lateral flap (3) near the neck area (2).